A crowd gathered to watch, smartphones in hand, as the shell of the heritage listed Belvedere was pulled down and crushed this afternoon. One of the chimneys toppled about 5pm. It was followed by one of the add-on rooms that had been teetering on unstable stilts since the fire was put out. It was greeted by a feeble cheer. And then, piece by piece they brought down the front facade as people chatted and muttered. One person said "bye bye Belvedere" as the bay window with its name was pulled down. The rest of the walls followed as a person in a white bunny suit hosed down the debris to stop asbestos fibres from puffing into the air. The second chimney was batted down in a shower of bricks and dust. By 5.22pm, Belvedere was just rubble.

"To make sure it's safe we're going to knock down two walls to stop them falling on other houses," Supt Stemm said earlier.

"It's a lovely old heritage building and it's completely destroyed."

Eleven fire crews fought for 90 minutes in vain to try and save the building.

Belvedere, next to the Greek Club on Edmonstone St, had been abandoned for several years.

Fire crews arrived at 6.10am to find the second floor of the one-time boarding house and private hospital ablaze.

It is understood the Greek community applied for the building to be demolished in 2010 but after a legal battle, it was decided the historic building would be restored.

Since then, it has been boarded up and been the haunt of squatters, although there was nobody in the house when the fire took hold.

There were fears that the fire could threaten neighbouring properties, which include the Greek Club and a sprawling, renovated colonial home.

Greek Club Vice-President Michael Anastas said it had been a morning of shock and awe.

He said he had been at the site since 7am and his first priority was to work with police and fire crews and ensure no one was inside.

"The (Greek) Community has taken immediate precautions and shut down our services on the advice of the fire brigade," he said.

Their services include the Greek Club next door to Belvedere, their church, child care, aged care, respite care and disability and youth services.

He said the use of the building and land was the subject of legal proceedings.

"(Brisbane City) Council had rejected an application for demolition during the past 12 months," he said.

"We're currently actively involved in discussions with the Council to discuss options for the retention of the property ans to maximise the benefits to the community for its services and needs - not just the Greek Community, the broader community," he said.

When asked if the Greek Community had any plans to develop the property, Mr Anastas said development "was not the appropriate word".

News_Image_File: Historic home Belvedere at South Brisbane in its heyday at the turn of the 20th century

The head of the National Trust in Queensland, Stewart Armstrong, said: "It was extremely disappointing because we've seen the quality of the interior.

"It's one of a fine set of late 1880s residences on that street and it had many opportunities for future use.''

He said there was an application to demolish the building and the National Trust had been involved in fighting it.

He said he couldn't comment on it as it was still going through the courts.

But they had been looking at ways the building could begin a new life.

"There seemed to be realistic ways of finding a future for this building," he said.

News_Image_File: The interior of Belvedere was rundown but still featured 'magnificent' features. Picture: National Trust

He said the building's exterior appearance was due to a 1930s refurbishment where it was turned into flats but the inside still retained its turn of the century grandeur.

"There's a beautiful cedar grand staircase just inside the entry hall and that was quite magnificent, "he said.

"The lower rooms had high ceilings and ornate timber fire places."

He said the house had belonged to very well connected people in the early 20th century and had been host to dances and family wedding receptions.

Neighbour Chris Griffin said he was woken by the incessant buzzing of helicopters overhead.

Then he heard sirens and the power went off.

"The next moment I could feel the heat coming from next door," he said.

"From our balcony we could see the centre of the house was raging out of control.

He said the house had always been abandoned although there may have been squatters from time to time.

News_Image_File: The smoking ruin of Belvedere after the fire was brought under control. Picture: Peter Wallis

Judith Brough owns a heritage listed house nearby and said as soon as her husband saw smoke he said "I bet it's Belvedere".

"It's been neglected for such a long time and I understand there were squatters in it," she said.

She said the building had been a hospital at one stage and was quite significant to the area.

"It doesn't look a great deal from the outside," she said.

"Inside it was quite remarkable."

She said there were polished timber floors and fire places.

"It's another piece of history gone," she said.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said he was disappointed the Belvedere had been destroyed, especially after plans were announced by the Greek community earlier this year to restore the historic building.

"In 2010 I stood outside this important part of Brisbane's heritage and declared Council would oppose any attempt to knock it down," Cr Quirk said.

"It's very sad news for the local community and the broader Brisbane community that this precious and historic building has been destroyed by fire."

Council refused an application in March 2010 to demolish the building which is on Council's Heritage Register. The decision was appealed and is currently before the courts.

News_Image_File: Belvedere had been abandoned for several years after being used as a boarding house. Picture: Google EarthNews_Image_File: The flames were visible from the Brisbane CBD. Picture: Mark Page, via Twitter

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